An unflinching portrait of Australia's remote Indigenous communities and their struggle to survive. Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently provoked furious debate by describing life in these communities as a "lifestyle choice" and the Commonwealth has withdrawn its funding. Communities in Western Australia are now facing possible closure, provoking protests around the country. But this Four Corners report confronts the uncomfortable truth about life in these communities.
The Four Corners team travelled across the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia to visit some of the settlements under threat. In some, they found grinding poverty, no jobs and little hope. In others they were told of appalling stories of sexual abuse and neglect. But they also found community leaders determined to tackle the dysfunction.
Four Corners is Australia's premier television current affairs program. It has been part of the Australian story since August 1961, exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate, confronting taboos and interpreting fads, trends and sub-cultures. Its consistently high standards of journalism and film-making have earned international recognition and an array of Walkleys, Logies and other national awards.